Held annually since 2004 in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Dialogue is a central element of the Middle East’s security architecture. It enables national leaders, ministers and policymakers from the Middle East, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia to gather together to discuss the most pressing regional security issues and to share policy responses.

The theme of the 18th edition of the IISS Manama Dialogue was ‘Rules and Competition in the Middle East’. At a time of significant challenges to the rules-based order, the Dialogue provided a timely opportunity to examine their effect on interests, influence and values in the Middle East, and beyond.